Politics

Europe hammered out a deal on Friday to continue forth with its plans to make moderate cuts in carbon emissions over the next decade. The mass of compromises and concessions have left partisans of all stripes with plenty to complain about, but fundamentally the original agreement seems to be limping forward intact. Observers in the media are also starting to… read more →

President-elect Obama will soon appoint Carol Brownezr to a newly created post of energy and environment policy coordinator in the White House. Brownezr, who served as head of EPA during the Clinton Administration, is a savvy, results-oriented leader with experience getting things done in Washington. Brownezr will have to draw upon all of her skills if she is to advance… read more →

California regulators took a major step forward in climate policy today by approving a plan to implement the states landmark Global Warming Solutions Act. The plan commits the state to reducing greenhouse gas emissions from 596 million metric tons (business-as-usual) to 427 million metric tons in 2020, or 30% from what would otherwise occur. This is a big deal! Californias… read more →

How did I miss the fact that the Netherlands is planning to wire up the entire nation for a massive road-pricing scheme, starting in 2011? Sort of the love child of a congestion pricing program and a gasoline tax, the scheme will use satellite technology* to track every vehicle in the country and charge them per-mile-driven according to a flexible… read more →

Parliamentary maneuvers in Congress can seem like inside baseball to those who don't follow it every day, but this stuff really matters. Take the recent example of Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) ousting Rep. John Dingell (D-MI) as chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. For years, Dingell has been a roadblock to meaningful climate legislation in the House. Representing… read more →

Last week, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger invited hundreds of the most influential leaders in climate issues from more than 50 states, provinces and countries to Los Angeles for the Governor's Global Climate Summit. Not only did he invite members of the government, private and non-profit sectors, he also provided 100 complimentary full access passes to youth activists from around the world,… read more →

In the two weeks since the election, Barack Obama has stayed mostly in Chicago -- and except for announcing White House staff appointments -- has made few public statements. But the president-elect emerged today to deliver a video address to a gathering of governors and policy experts in Los Angeles. Obama affirmed his commitment to federal cap and trade legislation.… read more →

Everyone has already linked to this tidbit from Newsweek's election post-mortem, but so what: > The debates unnerved both candidates. When he was preparing for them during the Democratic primaries, Obama was recorded saying, "I don't consider this to be a good format for me, which makes me more cautious. I often find myself trapped by the questions and thinking… read more →

The draft climate bill released earlier this month by House Representatives John Dingell (D-MI) and Rick Boucher (D-VA) comes up dangerously short. Not only does the bill include emissions reduction targets bordering on the absurd (example: for the next 10 years or so, the bill actually provides for an increase in emissions), but it also preempts much of the hard… read more →

There's been a bit of chatter in recent weeks about whether an Obama victory would truly be as transformative as many progressives hope and expect. Some have quietly suggested that nothing in Obama's record, temperament, or platform should make us expect dramatic gestures. They say that those who think otherwise are letting the man's remarkable personal story cloud their judgment… read more →